Sri Lankan Universities, Assholes and Waste of My Money.
I asked myself the question few times, “is it worth we spending our tax money on Free Higher Education?”. Over the years my answer turned in to “No. Not the way we are doing it right now”. Right now, I’m pretty much tired of looking at those assholes milking the government cow (that is us), and we are not getting any return out of it at the end of the day.
I do understand the value of free education. I myself and my parents, even our president, all are products of free education. Government investment on Free Higher Education was necessary at the time when we were new to that system. Back then government even invest on toilets, so we can get out of the habit of going on nature walks. But once toilets become standards, government stop investing on it, and now we build our own toilets with our own money. Don’t we all understand the value of higher education by now and aren’t we willing to spend our own money for it personally?
Don’t misunderstand me. I’m all for FREE Education. Education is a human right and everyone should have freedom to accrue it, no matter what. No matter you are poor, rich, smart or a retarded. But unfortunately we don’t have a FREE higher education in Sri Lanka. We have financially subsidized higher education, but in that process we take out the right for education form majority of citizens. Some fortunate people are able to leave the country, and accrue higher education elsewhere. (Fortunate people always able to leave this country.) But not so fortunate have to give up their rights to have formal higher education. If you were not able to score higher enough in A/L, government labels you, a dump mother fcker who is not worth of getting a higher education. I don’t like that. Education should be FREE. Even for rich people. Even for stupid people. Even for dumbass Einstein who acted retarded till his midlife.
We are a poor nation. If we invest on something, we need to gain some returns out of it. We as a nation spend our hard earn money on our universities (Mind you, our wives work in Middle East, doing all sort of dirty work for make that money). First of all our curriculums are duplicates of western universities. And eventually the students we train with our money, get jobs in Europe or some other smart nation than us, and move out there. Why the hell we train people with our money for other countries? Then Rest of the assholes that were not able to get a work permit in UK, US or Australia, start picketing front of Fort Railway Station. So the government (that is us) has to provide them some made up jobs and pay them monthly salary with our pocket till they live. Sri Lanka already has highest number of Government works in the world. Let’s stop producing more.
Now come to my most important question. What our free higher education system has done to our country LATELY, which we could not achieve by open higher education system? Did our universities invent anything? No! We had free higher education for so long, does our country become any better? No! Are we become any smarter? No! Does our university graduates become masters of the trade and create jobs for rest of the dumb mother fckers who dumb enough to fail A/L? No!
Then why We just keep on pumping our money in to higher education system and create some products either end up in some other country for free, or we end up maintaining afterword just because we are stupid enough to created them? Why?
"There is no greater crime than to stand between a man and his development; to take any law or institution and put it around him like a collar, and fasten it there, so that as he grows and enlarges, he presses against it till he suffocates and dies."
~ Henry Ward Beecher:
I do understand the value of free education. I myself and my parents, even our president, all are products of free education. Government investment on Free Higher Education was necessary at the time when we were new to that system. Back then government even invest on toilets, so we can get out of the habit of going on nature walks. But once toilets become standards, government stop investing on it, and now we build our own toilets with our own money. Don’t we all understand the value of higher education by now and aren’t we willing to spend our own money for it personally?
Don’t misunderstand me. I’m all for FREE Education. Education is a human right and everyone should have freedom to accrue it, no matter what. No matter you are poor, rich, smart or a retarded. But unfortunately we don’t have a FREE higher education in Sri Lanka. We have financially subsidized higher education, but in that process we take out the right for education form majority of citizens. Some fortunate people are able to leave the country, and accrue higher education elsewhere. (Fortunate people always able to leave this country.) But not so fortunate have to give up their rights to have formal higher education. If you were not able to score higher enough in A/L, government labels you, a dump mother fcker who is not worth of getting a higher education. I don’t like that. Education should be FREE. Even for rich people. Even for stupid people. Even for dumbass Einstein who acted retarded till his midlife.
We are a poor nation. If we invest on something, we need to gain some returns out of it. We as a nation spend our hard earn money on our universities (Mind you, our wives work in Middle East, doing all sort of dirty work for make that money). First of all our curriculums are duplicates of western universities. And eventually the students we train with our money, get jobs in Europe or some other smart nation than us, and move out there. Why the hell we train people with our money for other countries? Then Rest of the assholes that were not able to get a work permit in UK, US or Australia, start picketing front of Fort Railway Station. So the government (that is us) has to provide them some made up jobs and pay them monthly salary with our pocket till they live. Sri Lanka already has highest number of Government works in the world. Let’s stop producing more.
Now come to my most important question. What our free higher education system has done to our country LATELY, which we could not achieve by open higher education system? Did our universities invent anything? No! We had free higher education for so long, does our country become any better? No! Are we become any smarter? No! Does our university graduates become masters of the trade and create jobs for rest of the dumb mother fckers who dumb enough to fail A/L? No!
Then why We just keep on pumping our money in to higher education system and create some products either end up in some other country for free, or we end up maintaining afterword just because we are stupid enough to created them? Why?
"There is no greater crime than to stand between a man and his development; to take any law or institution and put it around him like a collar, and fasten it there, so that as he grows and enlarges, he presses against it till he suffocates and dies."
~ Henry Ward Beecher:
posted by Sam at
6:23 PM
14 Comments:
Truer words rarely been spoken.
There are university sudents waiting for Mahapola for booze. F*ckers.
So whats your suggestion? Except for a rant that you dont want to see tax money going into education, I dont see any argument put forward. Would you agree if we start charging for state universities or would you like to see private universities open?
As far as the private universities go, Im ok with it, anyone who has the money can go and get the necessary education. This would at least allow the student (and families) from spending a fortune on tuition fees and other expenses on another country.
'Education should be FREE. Even for rich people. Even for stupid people'. As for this, well the argument is that we can start up enough state universities to include all the school leavers (i.e. AL pass outs); or at least a majority of them (some do opt to stop study or study in some other country due to the fact that the field of study is not available in SL). And the state is fully looking forward to this, we have quite a lot of state universities now.
However given that there is a limitation still, how would you like the university entrance to be? You have made clear that you dont like the fact that people who performed well at ALs should be teh only ones considered; any ideas how they might include you?
I agree with most of what anonymous has said.
The education system of the country might be crap, but the Universities are not that bad. Up until recently Colombo and Moratuwa have been among the highest ranking Universities.
These Universities don't get a huge R&D budget and still what they achieve with their man/brain power is noteworthy to say at the least.
The problem with local graduates are more in the line of attitude, lack of creativity and the lack of exposure. Which I guess is a reflection of the society they live in.
//So what’s your suggestion?//
I’m not worthy enough for suggest something like how the higher education of the country should be. But as a tax payer, in finical point of view, I don’t mind government providing education welfare for law income students and bright cases that worth rewarding. Even education credits are perfectly fine. It does not matter it it is government suppliers or private suppliers (those are details) as long as everyone have opportunity to buy bread, medicine and education.
//the state is fully looking forward to this, we have quite a lot of state universities now.//
Before 4 year fully subsided higher education for each citizen, can government provide enough transportation services? Paid Transportation I mean?
But let’s say if government increases petrol price by another 50Rs and build up enough universities for everyone. Why should I (tax payer) pay for it when I do not get any benefit? What benefit do I get by training students and sending them to other countries as high skill workers? If not providing them government jobs afterwards?
//However given that there is a limitation still, how would you like the university entrance to be?//
University entrance should be a business of the university. Hospital admission should be a decision of the doctor.
// Universities are not that bad//
They are bad for the tax payer.
They are under powered. They do not have enough facilities for excising students. They are not capable of supplying for the demand. They are not even capable of run day to day administration functions correctly.
They maintain unhealthy monopoly in open economy. How can you maintain a open economy without open education?
// These Universities don't get a huge R&D budget//
Because universities are 100% government subsidies and Sri Lanka is a poor country.
I was wondering if the right to free education, may be a general right for people to be educated at all levels, to their maximum potential as well as according to their individual motivations? Therefore, this would include, different types of institutions, including schools, vocational training centers etc.
Maybe focusing on university education narrows it down too much?
University education is after all just one type of education. Not sure if it is the ideal type of education for all.
You do bring an interesting point about the brain drain. This is where I supose the government and the private sector within the country should provide incentives to these people to stay and contribute? Maybe ideally speaking (granted it is a 3rd world country) even provide incentives to attract the best brains from outside. Who knows...maybe in the future.
L,
You're have an excellent point. University education is just one type of education.
But the problem herein lies in the fact that our culture doesn't see it that way. Not only that, the only degrees that seem to be valid is either Medicine or Engineering. Indi wrote an excellent piece on this a long time back. (can't find the link)
Regarding brain drain, I don't think it'll be much of a problem in the near future because BPOs tend to give lucrative salaries and the exchange rate amplifies it to an extent that one can easily play god.
In a way I think it's healthy that more than 10% of Nasa Scientists are Sri Lankan, and every Physics special graduates from Colombo uni travel to US; because at some time of their lives, they will come back, for one reason or the other, and when they do they bring in more technology and expertise than they can ever bring if stay sulking at home. I personally know several examples, and frankly I admire their selfishness.
//You do bring an interesting point about the brain drain//
No. I’m not talking about brain drain. I’m talking about return of the investment. Brain drain can happen even we have an open education system. That is a total deferent subject.
Anyway, government already creates made-up jobs for university graduates, and I have to pay their salary too afterword. And for do that, we have to send our wives to work in middle east and daughters work in free trade zone.
//more than 10% of Nasa Scientists are Sri Lankan//
That is exactly my point. Why I (the tax payer) have to pay for train people to work in NASA, and why we have to send our wives to work in Middle East, and they can plant the American flag in the moon? What does the country get out of it?
//University education is after all just one type of education.//
True. But that is a well establish brand name. Can one say only people with more than X amount of income deserved to buy a Benz, and others should ride in Ambassador Padmini? Sound not right.
Dude,
Stop and read my comment again. Try to look at the argument instead of parts of sentences that you find attractive.
:) I have no disagreement with your comment. I agree with you. People may come back. They may bring technology back. They may be wonderful old people.
In the future we may even have a hope in BOP (who knows!)
But my problem is not with any of that.
Let everyone study as they wish first of all. Let them bear the cost of it (helping hand from the government for needed is alright). Then let them go anywhere as they please. Then they even may come back. They even may bring new technology home. They even may be wonderful old people.
The situation you explain in your comments won’t change a bit by letting education open to everyone? Does it? It won’t make any bit deferent by letting people bear the cost of it? Does it?
Sam, I do hope a university or any other education for that matter is more than just a brand name. Brand names in my opinion do not have lasting value.
Ok, I must admit I am a little confused. Though I think you haven't stated it explicitly I think you are also concerned about the elitist nature of the university system? If this is the case, I agree. The fact is that in most countries, it still remains the domain of those with more access to money, power etc.
So yes, universities should address this issue, but this is also where the lower levels, ie the school system should be looked at. How does one ensure that a child from a lower income bracket who has the potential to excel in this area, is provided with the optimal conditions to be able to eventually enter and succeed in the university system? I think this is a question that is constantly asked but unfortunately in all societies, still has not been addressed effectively.
I can however, tell you that in some western countries, a plumber has greater earning potential than most university graduates. Someone told me that in the UK, there was a news story about a university academic who re-trained as a plumber! So you need to ask what the purpose of a particular education pathway is, at a personal level and for the benefit of society in general. I have to disagree with your Mercedes Benz analogy here :-) Oh and by the way I think Ambassadors are pretty cool :-)
R, agree on the importance of graduates acquiring an international perspective to add value to the skill base in a country; I do wonder though how many in reality would be motivated to go back.
well today the free education is going to waste mainly because of the political background!!!! JVP is the most responsible party for that!!!
Ragging in universities has improved in a higher rate!
i am a victim who had to undergo through this pathetic situation! i went to the Sabaragamuwa university last week and could hold there for more than 5 days! ragging is done there both mentally and physically!
most of the students from Colombo have decided to leave that uni! the people in that uni doesn't like children who are from colombo!
any way my thought about free education is that it nshould be limited and the government should open private universities 4r the people who can afford it!!!!
Something I also wondered about for a while , one solution could be to set up student loans where you only have to start paying after certain number of years and with very low interest
im also a sri lanka but for years living in germany because i didnt get admissions for a sri lankan university, sri lanka is not a poor country,( see world's 50 poorest countries list ) and u should not talk about sri lanka like that. if u cant pass AL its your problem, no need to scold others, if u are stupid u cant study in the university, so try to be brave, its not our country's problem man,. many of my friends gor good marks for AL and studied in sri lankan universities. i got low marks and went to germany. whats the problem of that ? many people study in sri lanka, have many options. no need to go abroad. u said some people study in sri lanka and go to other countries to work, ( u also like that ) because u said lucky people go . its their choice.
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